Few days back from our vacation in Siargao and I’m already missing its food. Yes, the food. 😋

My expectations with regard to everything Siargao related has been met. We were able to see its surf and picturesque views. We also stayed at 3 different locations which gave us amazing vantage points of the island. My favorite though would be the very laid back island vibe; palm trees all around, people are not in a hurry, everyone’s nice and all smiles and there’s always good food somewhere within walking distance. 5 days in Siargao is short but enough for us to go island hopping for a day then the rest were spent for walking, sitting, eating by the beach. 🤗

Presenting the food (and places) of Siargao… 😁

PACIFICO BEACH RESORT

A 25-minute tricycle ride from the airport takes you to Pacifico Beach Resort in San Isidro; we decided to spend day 1 here since it’s away from the crowd of General Luna (the main tourist area). An overnight stay at their beachfront garden house room is around P1500 via airbnb. It includes a fan room (who needs aircon when you have seabreeze) on the second floor of their restaurant, private cr and this view from our balcony:

The room was super simple and super clean as well, mahihiya ka magpasok ng tsinelas! The balcony doubles as a yoga class venue in the morning and afternoon. We spent the afternoon walking by the road where we saw some surf shops then decided to sit by the restaurant for some drinks followed by dinner. We had buko juice, beer, chicken wings and fish and chips. The following morning, we had breakfast by the beach while enjoying some bacon, eggs with red rice. 🤗 Each dish costs around P250.

We then transferred to General Luna via habal habal to Kierra’s Homestay. It was an hour ride which costs P1K. 😭 Okay na rin, since it’s far. We stayed at Kierra’s for 2 nights; the airbnb host, Andre, was super nice and helpful, napasubo ako sa englishan haha. The place also cost P1500 / night and is located within walking distance from the Tourism Road and the famous Kermit Restaurant. The room has AC, private CR and own balcony in a gated compound.

LA CARINDERIA

Along Tourism Road is this Filipino / Italian fusion restaurant which always shows up whenever I search for food in Siargao. We had chicken adobo with rice, pasta ala bolognese, calamansi and banana juice. Each dish is around P300. Their adobo is just okay, but their pasta is amazing! It uses handmade tagliatelle pasta with super tasty, meaty sauce. 😋

KERMIT RESTAURANT

First night in General Luna is reserved for their famous pizza. Good thing our place is only 2 blocks from there so we arrived early for dinner; still, we had to wait for almost an hour to be seated. While waiting, we stayed at the bar and took advantage of their happy hour til 7PM (b1t1 cocktails for P180!) I sipped through 2 glasses of mango daiquiri, getting myself prepped for dinner. 🤪

Of course, we had to try the pizza. We opted for the Napoletana Pizza (P260) with parma ham (P50) and Linguine Sea Food (P320). I very much enjoyed the pizza since I like prosciutto.🤗 Pasta was nice too with fresh seafood, these two make a great combo.

PLEASURE POINT CAFE

Few meters from where we are staying at is this cafe claiming to be the best coffee spot on the island.. but we didn’t try any hehe. We just had egg with bacon crepe and french toast with bacon since we are joining an island hopping tour. The crepe seems a little dry but I love the french toast! P360 for both.

MYSIARGAOGUIDE

After breakfast, we’re off to island hopping! It’s called the 3-island tour since you will be visiting wait for it… 3 islands! haha Those are Guyam, Daku and Naked islands. Tour costs P1k, inclusive of shared boat ride, fees, morning snack (puto and turon), buffet lunch, drinks and booze!! They also provide activities like frisbee, jenga, floating beer pong and more. Our tour was booked via @/mysiargaoguide, just go to Bravo Resort to have your name listed.

MAMA’S GRILL

If you want something budget friendly and don’t really care about the taste of food then go here! Haha No hate, pero walang lasa para sakin, mura lang talaga. I enjoy grilled food usually but not this. ☹️ We had barbecue, porkchop and isaw + 2 cups of rice for P190.

LUNARES CAFE

There was power interruption island wide so most of cafes are closed. This Italian coffee shop though is open but with limited menu option because of the blackout so I was only able to try their croissant with parma ham and cheese (P200). Light but filling, could have been better if I had coffee with it. But still good. 😊

CAFE LOKA

We basically had iced coffee for lunch since we got stuck at Cafe Loka while waiting for the rain to stop. This one is located at Cloud 9’s beachfront with unobstructed view of surfers. Probably the best drink I had in all of Siargao (next is the mango daquiri 😂). Deep coffee taste and milky at the same time, basta ansarap and refreshing!! 😋

PAYAG SUITES

This isn’t a food spot but I believe our last accommodation deserves a highlight here. After Cafe Loka, we walked towards Ocean101 and just beside it is Payag Suites where we spent our last night in the island. It’s a 2-storey house, which can be rented separately; we had the upstairs room. It has a spacious room with super clean wooden floors, AC, nice bathroom with hot water and rainshower; plus wide window for natural light and this view:

I also booked this via airbnb for around P2300 / night. The host was super accommodating too, though I was not able to meet him personally. If ever you are going to Siargao and see his place is vacant, book it immediately! There are some mosquitoes at night though, bearable naman and the host said he will do something about it. So yeah, I still recommend it. 🤗

MIGUEL’S TAQUERIA & CERVECERIA

We’re off to the town for some burrito and taco for late lunch. Miguel’s is a small, corner food spot with only 2 tables in front. I heard they serve good fish tacos so I tried them (P110). It was good; fish was tender and served in soft shell taco. I like it. 👍

RONALDO’S INN & RESTOBAR

For familiar food choices go here. They serve grilled meat and different Filipino dishes. We had grilled chicken, vegetable fried rice and garlic shrimps for P400 total. Not bad, Not great. Just okay. Hehe

SHAKA CAFE

Their power bowls are of the reasons why I went to Siargao. I’m a fan of acai smoothie so I can’t wait to try their Bom Dia which is basically with acai berries, mango, coconut and granola. For P300, it comes with coffee. The verdict? MASARAP! All caps para intense! It has really lived up to its hype and I think I can eat this everyday (if it costs less) haha. Seriously, try this when in Siargao. ❤️

LAIDA’S EATERY

Our last meal in the island is also the cheapest. This turo turo style eatery is just in front of the entrance to Cloud 9, where our van transfer to the airport is picking us up. We had fried pork, adobong sitaw and rice for only P155. 👍

Indeed, Siargao is worth visiting not only for swimming, surfing and the island vibes but also for the food! 😋 In case you’re not hungy yet, here are more photos of Siargao to satisfy your thirst for the sea. 😍

Since it is only around 4 hours drive away from Cavite, Quezon has become our getaway of choice for the weekend. We were on the road as early as 5AM and reached our first stop in Lucban by 10AM (including a breakfast stop over in Los Baños, Laguna).

Where to Go

A trip to Quezon is not complete without paying a visit to Kamay ni Hesus in Lucban. It is a pilgrimage site where you can attend a healing mass and walk more than 300 steps up the hill where you can reach the Risen Christ statue. You can also buy religious keepsakes here. Admission is free.

Where to Stay

Across Kamay ni Hesus is Batis Aramin Resort and Hotel. If you are looking for a resort with swimming pools, well appointed rooms and relaxing views, then this is for you. They have villas, family rooms and hotel-like rooms perfect for barkada get-aways. We stayed at their Marikit rooms; each with 2 queen size beds, ensuite bathroom with hot/cold shower, aircon, coffee/tea making facility, complete with toiletries. There’s also a spacious balcony leading to the swimming pool.

Located at the foot of Mt. Banahaw, expect great views and an abundance of greens since the resort is surrounded by trees. Enjoy cold spring water in the swimming pool, perfect for beating the summer heat! If you are into thrill, they also have facilities for ziplining, wall climbing and rappelling.

You can also bring as much food as you like and use their grill free of charge. If you are not into cooking, they have a restaurant where you can order mostly Filipino food. We brought food for grilling and also tried some food from the resto. Their lomi, sinigang, and hardinera (Lucban dish like an embotido) were all gooood! 😋 Breakfast was also included which was served at one of their pavillions. Lucban longganisa, fried rice, eggs, bread and spread, watermelon to fuel the day. 👍

Rates go from P3000 and up, depending on the room type. Check their website / FB page for updated rates and reservation.

Where to eat

For affordable lunch, go to Mustiola’s at the town proper. Named as the best carinderia in town, you can enjoy lutong ulam starting at P45 per order. They also have cook-to-order dishes like lechon manok, pancit and more.

For nature themed dining, try Kamayan sa Palaisdaan in Tayabas. A 15-minute drive from Batis Aramin will take you to this floating restaurant which serves tasty Filipino food; great for sharing. I recommend their pork sisig, ginataang tilapia and steamed talong. 😋 Budget is around P300 per person.

For pasalubong, stop by Eker and Ely’s near Lucban Church. They have different choices of packed goods that you can take home with you. They also sell Lucban longganisa by the dozen. These are garlicky and slightly sour pork sausages which originated from this town.

Me and my friends definitely had a great time during our visit, especially at the resort and with the food! 😂 Quezon is one of the nearby towns that is worth the visit this summer. They also celebrate the Pahiyas Festival every May.

Located just a block away from the Mall of Asia Arena, Golden Phoenix Hotel Manila has become my accommodation of choice whenever I attend an event nearby. This is my second time staying here, and it still has the same value for money as before. 👍

Lobby was spacious with friendly staff. Check-in time is 2PM while check out is 12noon the next day. If it’s your first time, you might get confused since there’s no direct elevator to rooms; you need to first take an escalator up to the second floor then walk to the guest elevator which will take you to higher floors (our room was at the 6th floor). Note that this hotel shares the building with a residential condo and there’s a dedicated resident’s elevator. Also, they take P3000 incidental deposit upon check in which you can pay in cash or card. Of course this will be refunded upon check out minus charges that you incurred during your stay.

Desk with comfy chairs perfect for eating our late lunch that is the Mini Stop fried chicken 😂

Buffet breakfast was served at the Gold Spices Restaurant at the 7th Floor. It had all the hearty dishes that you will need as energy for the day. There was an egg station, bread and spread selections, cereals with milk and yogurt, red and white sauce for pasta, congee station, fruits and make-your-own salad. You can also enjoy some garlic rice, boneless bangus, corned beef, danggit, sausages and more. No bacon 🙃 but there’s french toast and pork / shrimp siomai which I really enjoyed. 😋

You can also use their gym and swimming pool at the same floor as the restaurant. Though we didn’t find it inviting and water was cold.

I noticed that their tariff rates are too high so I suggest that you book in advance via a 3rd party site and try to snatch a promo. I got this overnight stay with breakfast via Traveloka for only P2,800. 👍 Not bad considering its location and features. And since I mentioned that I have attended an event, here’s Ed Sheeran with one of his songs from the #DivideTourMNL. ➗

Whether you are out for business, an event or just plainly trying to break your daily routine, staying at Novotel is a great choice! Located just beside Araneta Coliseum, this is the perfect place to come home to after a concert. 😊

Managed by Accor Hotels, the same hotel group that operates Sofitel and Raffles, you can expect the same great hospitality at Novotel. It’s a 4-star hotel with 401 rooms all designed with a modern vibe while still keeping its classy style.

The hotel lobby was bright and welcoming. Check-in process was also a swift. I booked for a Superior Room but they upgraded it to the next category which is a Deluxe Room, for free! 🤗 Aside from that, we were also able to check out late without extra charge. 👍

What we got in the Deluxe Room:

Flatscreen LED TV

City view – Araneta Coliseum entrance which is perfect so I can monitor the volume of people at the concert 😁

The room was also well lit with different switches so you can choose which lights/lamps to use and combine them to your preference. Let me also highlight the abundance of power outlets! I swear, you will not run out of sockets to charge your gadgets all at the same time. Both sides of the bed has them plus some more at the front wall and bathroom. Plus they have included a panel with all the connecting ports that you might need; from hdmi, usb, audio/video ports for the tv and more!

The hotel also has an in-house restaurant and ice cream store. But if you want to eat out, there’s Gateway Mall just few meters away and different restaurants at the other side of the road (Army Navy, Pizza Hut, Bonchon, J.Co, Buddy’s, etc).

Amenities

There’s a kid play area, gym and swimming pool at the 6th Floor. The Premiere Lounge is at the 24th floor which can be accessed by guests staying at least in an Executive Suite.

There is a kids pool and an adult pool with lounge chairs and lifeguard.

Breakfast

Our accomodation comes with free buffet breakfast at the Food Exchange at the ground floor. They have a wide variety of food choices from usual Filipino breakfast to Middle Eastern dishes. There are different kinds of breads, pizza, cereal, salad with dressing of your choice, cold cuts, pastries, arabic condiments, a pickle station, eggs cooked your style, make your own taho!, congee station, freshly pressed juices, and most importantly 2 kinds of bacon! 🤗

As if traditional bacon is not enough, they added Canadian Bacon to the selection! It is a low fat version of the usual bacon but equally good! 🥓

For me though, the star of the breakfast would be the Stromboli. It’s like a turnover filled with thick slice of meat, almost like bacon. Super tasty and a perfect combination of meaty and starchy. It’s like a pizza but not really. 😋

In all, this hotel has by-far provided one of the best staycations I’ve had. Staff are nice, always all smiles and willing to help. The price? I suggest that you check their website or FB page from time to time for available promos and perks. I got this stay for P4,500 from their summer promo which is a much lower rate than an already discounted price from other 3rd party booking sites.

Let me end this post with the main reason why I chose this hotel. I attended day 2 of Lany’s Manila concert and didn’t want to stress myself commuting with the surge of crowd coming from the show. Since Novotel is just next door to Araneta, it was perfect. So here’s Lany with their hit ILYSB as their closing song of the night. ❤️🌹

Writing this blog post on the last day of 2017.. and what better topic to post than a review of the good to best food i have tried this year (i would have done a ‘where NOT to eat’ but i realized that i don’t have photos of food that ended as not masarap) 😂

My Stuff – Yellow Cab

I have high respect for the person who came up with this! For P190, you get your choice of pasta, chicken wings and pizza. I discovered this in January and has been my go-to meal whenever i can’t decide whether i want to eat pizza, chicken or pasta.. so why not get all? 💛

Bacon Burger – Betoy’s (Kawit)

We only ate at Betoy’s once but that doesn’t mean their food was bad.. I think we just never had a chance because food placed popped out like mushrooms this year haha. But honestly their bacon burger was not bad at all.

McDok’s Latin American Chicken (Noveleta)

..with chimichuri sauce. Surprisingly good but we never went back because i honestly felt their menu was expensive. We went there in Feb though, so i’m not sure if their menu already changed.

My forever and ever favorite tapsihan in the world! haha Seriously.. some of the greatest food come in its simplest form.. and that is Vemouch. I don’t even need to look at their menu; i come in, sit and go like “ate tapsilog with bacon sakin“. 🥓

Silantro (Tagaytay)

I’ve always heard that Silantro is good but I have very low chances of going to Pasig so I never got to try it. So when its Tagaytay branch opened gora agad kami! Actually, soft opening palang sya when we visited. And yes, the rumors are true! Silantro is made up of all good things! So good, I went back again the next day! Although, service the following day sucked (pagbigyan ko na since they are on soft opening) but were still goooood. This reminds me.. I have to go back!

Zubuchon’s Pritchon (Makati)

Prito + Lechon = Pritchon. So bad its good! Fun fact: we had this meal after a 3-hour badminton session.. so i guess we deserve it haha

South StrEat Container Food Park (Silang)

We all know how food parks were all over since last year but we went our way to Silang to try this one. I don’t remember from which stall i bought food from but over all, good food with good people always works. 👍

Breakfast at Belmont Hotel (Pasay City)

For me to say that your hotel’s breakfast is great, i should see (and eat) bacon. So yes Belmont Hotel, your breakfast buffet is great! haha look at that beauty! 😍

Grilled Porkchops – Tomahawk Chops and Grill (Pasay)

Another sulit meal this year is this grilled porkchop plate from Tomahawk. If i remember correctly, this is only for P200 something and i can barely finish it.. and that says a lot about the quantity haha! Oh and yes, ansarap nung rice!

Gringo’s (Pasay)

Another drool inducive meal this year is from Gringo’s! Can’t remember what we ate specifically.. but I remember that they were one of the few restos that opened during good friday around MOA area. So buti nalang and we got to try their good fil-mex food.

Ben’s Halo Halo Ice Cream

True to its tag line.. this is indeed the creamiest halo halo! I think they mixed milk with water then turned it to ice then shaved it then poof if became super creamy and milky halo halo! haha I don’t know though where you can buy it since i tried it when they joined the food bazaar during a festival at Wind Residences, Tagaytay.

Neul Bolm Restaurant (Tagaytay)

This is my first try at Korean food and it did not disappoint. Fairly priced Samgyupsal with up to 2 servings of each side. I also like the korean paste / sauce that they served. Realization: buti nalang talaga natuto na ako kumain ng lettuce so i get to enjoy food this this. 😊

Crispy Kangkong – Balinsasayaw (Tagaytay)

This, for me, is the best food find of 2017 among all the food i tried during the many times i went to Tagaytay this year hehe. Perfectly coated and fried Kangkong, yes my friends this is a vegetable! haha And oh hello to the ever reliable crispy pata! 😍

Monster BBQ Burger – Xyan Cafe (Cavite City

Let me just rave about how underrated this place is! I mean, how many of you have been to this cafe given na taga-Cavite City ka din? Seriously, you should pay this place a visit for some burger and fries fix. They aso have pasta and milkshakes which are good too. Located at the far end of R. Palma Street, San Antonio.

Garlic Parmesan Wedges – Cafe Antix (Cavite City)

I think there’s nothing left to argue that Cafe Antix serves some of the best burgers, pizza, pasta, cheesecake, coffee, blended drink, and more here in Cavite City. Taas na nga kamay ko oh! 🙌 So let me just remind everyone, in case you haven’t noticed yet, that they also have potato wedges that would go well with basically anything you order haha. So go ahead, munch munch munch!

Chili Dog – Dog House Diner (Kawit)

I am also a fan of chili con carne, even the one from 711 pinapatulan ko. And for me, pasado tong Chili Dog nila; even made perfect by their buy one get one chicken wings promo during the time we visited. Ayos din yung chili cheese fries! Check their FB page as they usually promos from time to time.

Garlic Chix – Chix ni Calix (Cavite City)

One of our favorite delivery food here in our hometown. Savory chicken that you can eat in one sitting if you wanted to. They don’t have a dine in place but you can just contact them at their FB page for lunch and dinner deliveries. Winner din ang buttered shrimps!

Shoyu Ramen – Mendokoro Ramenba (Makati)

Indeed the best ramen in Manila! Had to wait for about an hour to be seated but I am telling you, it is worth the wait! From the broth to the noodles to the chashu, everything is perfect together! This beats my former favorite ramen that is Umauma haha

Beef Ribs and Brisket – Holy Smokes BBQ (Makati)

For legit smoked bbq cravings, go here! They serve authentic Texas-style barbecue smoked using local fruit wood. This is the kind that you see at the Food Network and make you drool. Medyo pricy nga lang, a decent portion will cost you about P500 with 1 side order. But this is as legit as it can get so no harm in splurging once in a while.

Kanto Freestyle Breakfast (Makati)

Cheap but good, instagrammable food. We tried their New Zealand Tapa and Vigan Longganisa which are both tasty; also comes in decent serving size. Their ube pancake is also recommended!

Chicken Wings – Jan Rhiz Restaurant (Cavite City)

Another sulit deal can found here as they occasionally have P199 unli chicken wings promo; with rice and drinks. Surprisingly meaty chicken parts as well so sulit talaga hehe! They serve rice meals, cakes and boodle fight set meals regularly when the unli promo is not available.

678 Korean BBQ Restaurant (Pasay)

Aside from the food, this place is nice because it closes late. They even have unli samgyupsal starting at 11pm. We tried their pork belly and other korean dishes that i can’t remember hehe. Authentic, affordable korean food.👍

Mcdonald’s Sta. Clara (Bulacan)

Wala lang, just wanted to mention that i went from Cavite City to Sta. Maria Bulacan to visit Maine’s Mcdo branch. Haha Of course they have the usual Mcdo menu; it was twister fries season during that time. 😊

Onyang’s Street Wings (Cavite City)

This has slightly become a comfort food. They have several flavors of chicken to choose from, plus variety of fries, burgers, pizza; add to that unli drinks for every meal that you order. This place is new, I think they opened in November, and is usually jam packed. My favorite is 6 pieces of chicken for only P100!

Chili Garlic Wings – Oinkneng’s (Cavite City)

Speaking of chicken wings, this has got to be the best. This is an easy eat, as in i can munch 10 pieces without noticing it.. and it actually tastes good! Plus they deliver for free along with their other specialties like sisig, lechon kawali, etc. We had this for noche buena and tonight again for media noche.

Breakfast at Concha’s Garden Cafe (Quezon City)

I had the rare opportunity to go to QC this year and of course i used it to visit Concha’s QC branch. Good thing they have started to serve breakfast as early as 7am. I tried their Vigan longganis which tastes as usual but they have really gooood blueberry cheesecake! As in!

Surf & Turf – Mcdonald’s

Last month, Mcdo released a secret menu consisting of 4 new burger varieties. I was able to try the surf and turf; which is very filling considering that it has beef patty and fish fillet. I believe it is still available because i ordered it again last week hehe; just ask for the secret menu before you order.

Longsilog – Bag of Beans (Tagaytay)

This was my first time trying the main branch of BoB, and I liked the garden set up. Food is just okay, but it made up for the ambience. I tried their longganisa meal, just okay hehe.

Matcha Frap – Coffee Project (Kawit)

I am a fan of matcha and i’m glad their frap version is actually nice. Plus their pasta is good too, value for money is 👍. Match-rap!

Detour Travel Cafe (Noveleta)

This new cafe opened last month just almost in front of Gudvibes Store so naturally, we had to try it. Hehe Every table / section is decorated with different travel destinations. Their food is also okay, not too pricey and enough to be fill hungry tummies.

Bacon Slab – Poco Deli (Makati)

I’ve seen bloggers rave how good this bacon is and i finally got to try it went we went to Ayala Triangle to watch the lights show. And yes, the bloggers are correct! This is so sinful but so good; just look at that thick slab! The serving is good for 2 but enough for 1 bacon lover like me. 😍

7Twenty7 American Diner (Kawit)

I got excited when i saw this new diner here in Cavite, i told myself i have to go asap, and asap i went. 😊 Everything was as expected; it has the retro diner vibe complete with memorabilia and diner inspired tables and chairs. As also expected, it was pricey. I mean, don’t get me wrong.. food tastes good but it would be splurging a lot if you go there, let’s say, weekly. Make sure to have your camera ready when you go here; i’m sure you are bound to upload a whole album’s worth of pictures 🤗

Cheesecake of Cafe Moraco (Kawit)

Cafe Moraco has been our go-to after dinner coffee session for the sole reason that it closes late. Little did we know that they have one of the best cheesecakes in town and it’s only P300 (1 whole pie good for 4). I don’t have a photo of it though. It’s so good, ubos agad bago pa ma-picture-an hehe. Anyway, here’s a photo of some of their available drinks.

$1 deals at Pound (Pasay)

We were able to try Pound by Todd English at their new branch at MOA. While on soft opening, they have a $1 menu where you can try some of their bestsellers for $1, yes P50. I love their burger and truffle fries!

Brunch at Chaplin (Makati)

I’ll cap off this post with ouryear-end brunch session yesterday at Chaplin, Century City Mall. It’s an Israeli cafe but they also serve some American and Filipino dishes. I ordered the eggs benedict with Chaplin tea. At first i got worried about the tea kasi andaming ganap hehe: ginger, cinnamon sticks, fresh leaves, etc. At first i was like elck, but as i sip it turns out that its’s actually good and refreshing! Lakas maka-tita, sobrang bet! haha That wraps up my 2017 food trip. I didn’t include food from our trips because those should be in a different post; when, i don’t know. haha A forever favorite that is not listed is Yabu! I think i went there about 6 or 7 times this year and each time feels like the first time. Always amazing!

As i mentioned in the beginning, i also had a fair share of ‘not masarap‘ food such as the Starbucks’ Franken Frappuccino, Jollibee’s Strawberry Fries, Pizza at All American (All Home Kawit), KFC’s salted egg yolk chicken, Spinach with Yogurt of Mister Kabab, and the top honor (horror) which is Neri’s Gourmet Tuyo. haha 😁✌️

Been a week since we came back from our Taiwan trip and I can still smell all the good food it has to offer (yes including the stinky tofu haha). So let me share with you some info on how to enter Taiwan with an eVisa or better, how to be visa exempt! 😊

People are a little hesitant to book a flight to Taiwan because of the visa thing, especially when the visa-free announcement was postponed. But don’t worry since you can still apply for e-visa or if you qualify you might not need any visa at all.

If you have an active visa to any OECD country (US, Canada, Japan, etc.), you are visa exempt and do’t need to pay visa fees. You just need to fill out a form from the TECO website and get a visa certificate which you will present along with your OECD visa at the immigration. What’s great is that even if your visa has expired within 10 yrs time, you can still use it! Amazing di ba? This is what I used for our trip.

If you don’t have any OECD visas to present, that’s fine. You can just apply for an e-visa so you don’t need to go to their embassy to apply for one. Visa fee is around P2700 when converted; you also just need to fill out a form online, no need for other supporting documents, pay the fee via credit card then wait withing 3 days for the result. C applied for his e-visa Friday morning and got an email that it has been approved around 8am on Monday. Remember to print out the visa certificate / e-visa before going to the airport and double check your details! Then that’s it! You may now glide your way to Taiwan and go on a food trip! (Food trip talaga 😂)

Where to Stay
I suggest that you get a hotel/hostel near the Taipei main station, assuming that you will be going around to the usual tourist spots. We booked an equisite room at King Plaza Hotel; comes with free basic buffet breakfast but you need to walk for about 10 minutes from the main station. It was too late when we found out that there is an actual bus stop in front of the hotel. haha

(Wanted to insert a photo of the hotel here then I realized that I don’t have any) 😂

Speaking of bus, I also suggest that you get an Easy Card. It’s a reloadable card which you can use to ride the bus, MRT or buy from a convenience store. You can buy a card for NTD100 then reload it anytime. This will save you time lining up for tickets for the bus/MRT.

Where to go and What to eat
Since our flight arrived at midnight, we stayed at the airport for a while to rest and check out bus options going to the city. We opted for the direct trip to Taipei via KuoKuang Transport; bus terminal is just outside the arrival area. Fare is NTD125 and you will alight at the main station (the one I mentioned earlier)

It will take about an hour bus ride from the airport to the city so I bought something to eat from the convenience store (Hi-Life). I have no idea what this is but it looks safe haha. It turns out to be a sandwich with chicken fillet and egg. Yummy! Food number 1 did not disappoint!

We reached the hotel too early for check in so we tried to rest there for a while then went out for breakfast. Most of the establishments are still closed so we went to the ever reliable Mcdonald’s near the main station.

TAIPEI ZOO
First stop is the zoo! Didn’t really know what to expect here since it was a last minute part of our itinerary. Turns out, it was a huge zoo with vast variety of animals. From camels to hippos, from flamingos to elephants, from zebras to pandas! Yes panda! I also did not know that I will be excited to see a panda! haha Seriously cute and worth the visit! 😍

You can reach the zoo via the MRT; entrance fee is NTD60 which you can also pay using the easy card. Also, I was half expecting for the zoo to be kinda smelly since you know different animals.. but no, the place actually smells good! I hope our zoo here will be as well maintained as theirs.

XIMENDING YOUTH SHOPPING DISTRICT
We took the train going to Ximen and went out exit 6 to reach Ximending. It was hailed as the harajuku of taipei since it has alleys of hip fashion finds and food options! It also has a busy pedestrian crossing, similar to Shibuya of Japan.

We had lunch at Magic Curry; kinda hard to spot since it’s at the second floor of some establishment with a small signage. I opted for beef curry while C had what looks like a chicken casserole. Both are really tasty! Meal cost around NTD400 total.

Of course, I wouldn’t go to this trip without trying their bubble tea! Did you know that the pearl milk tea/bubble tea originated in Taiwan? So it’s just fine to assume that they have the best one. And yes, they do! Fresh milk + tea + pearls.. what’s not to love!

SHILIN NIGHT MARKET
I almost didn’t want to leave the bed after checking in. But I had to.. because dinner! 😂 We took the MRT to reach the Shilin Night Market; which they say is the biggest and must-go night market in Taipei. We wanted to have a regular dinner first (saving space for street food later) and found ourselves at the foodcourt located at the basement of the market. There are a lot of eateries there, mostly offering fresh seafood made to order. We sat at the first table we saw available and ordered food using point point method (turo turo style because language barrier is so strong in this place haha). Beef noodles, braised pork rice, pineapple shrimps are what we had. Let me tell you this.. I am not a chinese noodle kind of person, I’m more of a ramen girl kasi.. but their beef noodles, ughh so good, seriously.. Also I like the braised pork rice, kinda reminds me of adobo rice hehe.. Shrimps are too cute with candy sprinkles on top haha

We passed by different street food stalls going back to the train station. Of course, we had to try the famous stinky tofu (actually only C tried them because I can already feel my stomach hurling from the smell, one word: sewer haha) You can have a taste for only NTD45.

While he is enjoying(?) his tofu, I opted for the torched wagyu beef instead (NTD100), sounds fancy but no haha. Uhmm it just tastes normal beef with sauce to me. I wasn’t able to finish it.

KING PLAZA HOTEL BREAKFAST
Our accomodation came with free basic buffet breakfast so we had to take advantage of it. Operative word, basic.. so no bacon, egg station, hotdogs and the like. They had salad though, pancit and potato croquettes which are enough for me.

YEHLIU GEOPARK
After breakfast,we headed north to Yehliu Geopark; a landscape of rocks eroded by the sea. You can reach it via bus from the west terminal of the main station. Fare is NTD96 for 1hr30 minutes travel. You will alight at the stop at Yehliu then walk toward the park entrance (fee is NTD80)

Reminder: apply sunblock and bring an umbrella if you don’t want to get toasted!

There is a small restaurant just outside the park so we decided to have lunch there. It’s called Shark Bites Toast where they serve american style dishes. C had chicken curry while I had the one in the photo below because it looks very promising and filling haha. Our total bill is about NTD400; meal comes with free hot or iced black tea.

JIUFEN OLD STREET
From Yehliu, you can take a bus to reach Jiufen. Wait for bus 790 to Keelung train station, from there take bus 788 to Jiufen. It will take around 40 minutes each bus ride and you can also use easy card to pay.

Jiufen is a sprawl of food stalls and novelty items. It has narrow streets leading to picturesque views of the mountain side.

We munched on peanut ice cream roll while walking around. This is really good and refreshing! Not too sweet as well. You can taste the distinct peanut flavor mixing with the ice cream and it’s only NTD40! I recommend you try this if ever you find yourself around Jiufen!

There is a direct bus going back to Taipei from Jiufen, but be mindful of the time since last trip is at 8:30pm and it can be crowded with tourists trying to go back to the city.

COMMUNE A7
This is a really chill, laid back food park near Taipei 101. Just take the train to Taipei 101 then walk towards ATT4Fun mall then you will see Commune A7 across it. There are several food stalls from burgers, to pizza, to beers, to milk tea and more. We had chili con carne pizza, baked chicken wings, nachoss and milk tea for dinner. Everything is good and what I like most is that there are many people but it’s not crowded?? Gets?? how did that happen… I wish food parks here are like that too..

7-11!!
Convenience store food trip for breakfast! I had this roasted chicken with rice + cranberry juice for NTD80. They actually have a lot of food choices in store, you will never go hungry!

DIN TAI FUNG @ Taipei 101
We’re back at Taipei 101 for picture taking and lunch. There was a line of people waiting for lunch and waiting time is about 70 minutes so we went around the mall while waiting. Din Tai Fung is famous for its xiao long bao and it originated in Taiwan. Once our number was called, we were ushered to our table and orders were taken promptly. Of course we had xiao long bao (pork, 10 pcs),fried pork with rice and pork/shrimp dumpling. Everything totalled to around NTD600, everything tastes good as well! 😋 Must try!

DREAM COLOR
We’re back at Ximending to try and find souvenirs and kill time. While at it, we tried the colorful drink from Dream Color: guava dragon fruit drink for me and dragon fruit with btterfly pea flower tea for C. We had this combo for NTD100. Surprisigly tasty and refreshing!

ELEPHANT HIKING TRAIL
Our last activity for this trip is to hike the elephant mountain for an elevated view of the city + Taipei 101. This was not a good idea since we had been walking for the past 2 days and our legs were already too tired to hike. We went past half of the trail and had to stop. Anyway, we still had a good view from there:

HOT STAR LARGE FRIED CHICKEN
Another Taiwan original is this fried chicken bigger that your hand! They have branches all around the city but we tried the one at the maine station before heading to the airport. Fried chicken came with fries and drink, forgot the price.

That wraps up our Taiwan trip. Medyo bitin knowing there are more places to visit and food to try. Anyway, all good.

Going back to the airport is also easy since they have an express train from the main station. Fare is NTD120 and it will only take about 30 minutes to reach the airport. Also, wifi connection is available almost everywhere but not super reliable. So I suggest that you get a wifi egg so you can stay connected anytime. This will help you navigate around and avoid getting lost or struggle to ask for directions because not everyone can speak English.

If you have any questions or clarifications especially with the visa, just let me know. 😊 Happy travels!

I’ve been to some trips this year but for some reason, I have been plain lazy to blog. But anyway, hooray for this! nyaha

Our Coron trip has been short but enough to explore some good food around the town; 😋 so here goes my share of food itinerary if you are planning to visit this beautiful island.

Tita Esh Eatery
We arrived after lunch and have been transferred to the hotel immediately. After few minutes of checking in and looking around the place, we headed to the town to grab some late lunch and book our tour. Tita Esh Eatery is located at Real St. and it’s just your simple go-to place for food. It’s kinda like Rachie’s of Cavite City. I had pancit palabok with fried chicken (P120) while C had tapsilog (P80). A glass of iced tea is P10. Nothing special, simple meal which is good enough to fuel our next stop which is to hike the 720+ steps up the Mt. Tapyas. 💪

Trattoria Altrove
I have been looking forward to try this Italian restaurant since it has been hailed as the number 1 resto in Coron as per Trip Advisor. It’s located few blocks away from Mt. Tapyas but if you have just done more than a thousand steps, few blocks felt like a mile. haha Upon entering the resto, you have to remove your shoes which helps keep the floor really clean and shiny. The place was a little dark as well since you were supposed to have dinner with candle light. Servers and the foreigner owner (I assume) were very attentive to. We had a Hawaiiana Pizza(P410) and a glass of mango juice (P60). I have to say that the pizza tastes really good but I think we could’ve appreciated the place more if we ordered pasta; which we didn’t since the pizza is already 15-inch and we think it was enough for us. Still, I think the place deserves its number 1 spot.

Coron Westown Resort
Since our accomodation came with free buffet breakfast, we had to take advantage of it. They have the usuals: fried rice, hotdogs, assortment of breads and spreads, salad, chicken nuggets, arroz ala cubana, tuna flakes, scrambled eggs, plus they have an egg and pancake station. Of course, there’s coffee and some juice. Their resto where breakfast is served is just in front of the pool, which gives an amazing view.

Picnic lunch at Banana Island
Our activity for the day was to tour Bulog Dos, Banana and Malcapuya islands. Our boat docked at Banana Island and we had our lunch there c/o JY Travels (our tour provider), which is part of the package. 2 boatmen and a lady tour guide were with us during the entire tour; while we were busy swimming and picture taking, they were busy preparing our food. They served ensaladang talong (which I found kinda sour), chicken adobo with potatoes, grilled fish (don’t know which kind of fish but it tasted really good!). We also had banana and watermelon for dessert. It was nice eating with our hands with an amazing view of the beach along with the foreigners who were with us. Yes, we are the only Pinoys in the group. hehe

Turon in Coron
After visiting the Malcapuya Island, which was our last stop, we were headed to another 1 and a half boat ride going back to their docking area. While at it, ate tour guide served turon and banana cue for snack. What better way to have it than while sight seeing the pristine waters of Coron! ahhhhh!

Santino’s Grill
After the tour, we freshened up in the hotel and headed back to town for dinner. We went to Santino’s Grill as per the recommendation of a friend; and I’m so glad I listened to her! haha The specialty of the place is Baby Back Ribs, we had a half slab of it plus Pork Sisig (P180) plus a platter of garlic rice (P120). Let me just rave on how good the food were! Their ribs are fork-tender with just right amount of barbecue sauce! Well worth the P300 that we paid for it. Also the sisig was soooo good! Though a little oily, it was still good! We were not able to finish all of it since they came in big servings. How I wish we have Santino’s here in Cavite. nyaha! Only bad thing about the place is the server, after being asked for the wifi password twice, never gave it to me. 😳 I don’t know if it slipped his mind (twice) or he really just doesn’t know the password. Oh well..

Pedro’s Gelato
Though still full from dinner, I asked C to leave room for dessert. We headed straight to Pedro’s where they said the best gelato is served. The place is small but cozy. We shared a cup with 2 flavor: green tea and nutella for P150. It was okay but I can’t seem to differentiate it from other gelato that I have tried. Anyway, all good…

Fika Indulgence
On our second morning and sadly last day in the island, we have decided to ditch the buffet breakfast in the hotel. (Well okay yeah we dropped by the hotel resto to check what they are serving and ended up eating some haha) Then we headed back to town to look for souvenirs. After that, we walked a little to Fika Indulgence for brunch. We were in a little rush since we arrived past 9am and they were closing at 10am. We had nachos, french toast with bacon and egg and C had a karamelokiato with is basically a blended caramel flavored drink hehe. Food were okay but the ambience was better. Walls were decorated with travel – related photos and quotes.

Westown Cafe
We had to check out from the hotel at noon and had to wait few hours before our airport pick up arrived. So guess what we did? Yes, ate at the hotel resto to kill time. 😁 I had their grilled chicken pesto (P250) plus a strawberry milk shake (P90). I like the pesto since it was creamy and generously sauced. 👍

Airport Cafe
Since I have a thing with airports and coffee, of course I wouldn’t miss this one. We had a blended drink (forgot what it’s called already) for P140; enough to help us cool down while waiting to board.

Based on the research that I did and from what I actually saw from town, there are a lot more restos / grills / bars / eateries, etc. that we weren’t able to try. Aside from that, there are also a lot of islands that we were not able to tour due to time constraints. If you are going to Coron, make sure to stay there for at least 3 full days so you can make the most of it. 😊

I can consider myself a foodie in terms of my love of food but I can’t call myself an all around foodie because I’m picky. One thing that got me worried (and challenged) with our KL trip was the food. I’m not a big fan of curry or anything too spicy for that matter. Plus if food in front of me doesn’t look or smell good, there’s big probability that I will revert to the ever reliable fried chicken. haha

After a 4 hour plane ride and 1 hour land transfer from KLIA to the city center, we were 2 hungry kids craving for anything with rice. We found ourselves at the Petronas Mall side of Suria KLCC, specifically the Signatures Level 2 foodcourt. We kinda played safe since it is our first meal in this foreign land, we really didn’t know what to expect yet.

Chicken Rice at the Petronas Mall
This is the chicken + bbq chicken rice meal for RM10. Meat is tender with flavorful skin, almost like those in peking duck. High in cholesterol though.

Dhivya’s Cafe at the Batu Caves
Early morning the following day, we braved the 272 steps up and down Batu Caves without any food intake. So after tiring ourselves from the hike and picture taking, we rewarded ourselves with something we found in a local cafe at the foot of the caves. We had Roti Canai which is hand tossed flatbread, made mainly of flour. It came with 3 kinds of curry dips, 2 of which are extremely hot. Not to mention, other diners dip in the same container. Well, who am I to complain. haha Meal in the photo costs around RM7.

KFC at the Kasturi Walk
After Batu Caves, we headed to Chinatown via train and did more walking towards Central Market and Merdeka Square. Come lunch time, we settled for the first fastfood we saw and thankfully it was KFC! haha I still can taste the strong curry sauce by that time so I need something that tastes familiar to wash it down. I had what they call a Snack Plate Combo for RM10.50. It came with 2pcs of chicken, mashed potato and coleslaw. They didn’t serve gravy, they have ketchup and spicy thingy sauce instead.

Starbucks Coffee at the Berjaya Times Square
We also had our usual coffee session while resting at Berjaya Times Square. The afternoon heat and all the walking that we did got to us so it’s time for something to cool us down. Venti sized frappe is about RM13 each.

Texas Chicken at Bukit Bintang
Since we still feel full from all the food earlier, we settled for something that we passed by walking around Bukit Bintang which is KL’s shopping district. It was a simple chicken meal over a nice convo of how our trip has gone so far. A combo meal costs about RM11 each with overflowing drinks. 😀

Tour Les Jours at Wolo Hotel
Our third and final day in KL started with a hearty breakfast in this upscale bakery at the heart of Bukit Bintang. Chino had a Sunny Set A while I had Eggs Benedict. We also shared over the best Dark Cherry Danish I’ve had ever. That is melt in your mouth goodness, a great way to start any day!
A hearty meal like this comes with an equally hearty tab, haha RM42 that is.

Wantan Mee at the Petronas Mall
After breakfast, we were back at the Petronas Tower for the Skybridge tour. While waiting, Chino had rice
with mixed lamb and chicken kebab (RM10.90) On the other hand, I had BBQ Chicken Mee (RM7). It was kinda same as the first bbq chicken that I had here, only it was served on top of tasty noodles.

Just Desserts at the Petronas Mall
Since we have more time to kill, it’s
dessert time! I tried this Mango De Longan (RM5.50) which is crushed ice topped with fresh fruits and mild syrup!

Restoran Sai Woo at Jalan Alor
We have saved our final meal in KL for Jalan Alor. This is the famous hawker street of KL where you can find the best chinese/malay cuisines served in the comfort of well, the streets! When it comes to seafood, Chino is into squid (RM25) so we had the sizzling looking one plus some chicken/beef satay (RM10). Paired with Yang Chow Rice, this is as authentic as chinese food
can get! Freshly cooked and very tasty!

And of course, I cannot let this trip pass
without trying the Teh Tarik. This translates as “pulled tea” which refers to the manner that it was prepared. But to pinoys like us, it best translates as Milk Tea!! I am not trying to hype this drink (why would I even do that) but this is the best milk tea I have had ever. And believe me when I say that coz I have had a share of milk tea addiction in the
past haha It has a strong tea taste but the milk (condensed, I suspect) blends well with it. I had it iced but I’ll never say no to a warm Teh Tarik too. 😀 If only I had this on out first day, I would have consumed tea the whole 3 days we were there. I love it ❤

We are 2 happy kids, immersed in Malay culture in this foreign land. I know there are a lot more to try and experience in this city but what we had was enough to bring with us home and cherish forever! Thank you KL for giving us a lot of memories in terms of travel and food. Hoping to be back for more Teh Tarik! 🙂

Boracay is undoubtedly one of the must-see places in the Philippines. Once you set foot on its powdery sand, swim in its warm clear waters and witness its breathtaking sunset, you’d understand why. 🙂 But aside from its many views, a good vacation wouldn’t be enough without good food. Boracay also gives various choices for tourists to fuel their vacation. In this post, I will share to you some of the good eats that we tried in our recent Boracay trip. I’m no master of the island (just my 2nd time) and I still have a lot to know but these are definitely worth a try. 🙂

Munchies Restaurant
This is a semi-mexican / filipino corner along Bulabog Road, about 2 minutes walk across D’Mall going to Bulabog Beach. Garlic Chicken with rice is P150 while Chicken Wings is P160.

Loco Frio
Something to keep you boozed all day hehe! They serve frozen drinks, with or without alcohol which you can take with you while touring the island. Try their Strawberry Kiwi with Vodka for P200+, comes with the reusable tumbler.

Paradiso Grill
There are lots of food choices along the beachfront and Paradiso is among the budget friendly ones. If you like simple dinner with good serving size, this is your place. I tried Fish and Chips for P350 while Chino had Grilled Pork Belly for P200.

The Lazy Dog Bed and Breakfast
Breakfast usually comes for free with accomodation in Boracay. Each resort/hotel can possibly serve almost the same food but it will ony vary on the presentation and ambience of where you are staying. As with us, we have been served breakfast in the comfort of our own front porch at Lazy Dog.

Jonah’s Fruitshake
This is the ‘it’ drink of Boracay. A visit in the island is not complete without trying any of their fruitshake made of fresh fruits. They have a place in the northern part of Station 1, which is perfect for sight seeing with a drink in hand. Melon milk shake is P110 in a to-go plastic bottle.

I ❤ Backyard BBQ
You can spot them in a small corner in D Mall with few tables so the place can be crowded. Good thing we are able to get a table at lunch time and try what they say is one of the best bbq here. I recommend their Original Hawaiian Baby Back Ribs (P299). Sweet and tangy sauce with perfectly grilled ribs! Chino tried the Best Pork Belly (P190), nicely grilled too and I like the sauce, i think it’s peanut based. Also try their mmmmaple corn cup (P58) for a full bbq experience 🙂

Beach Bites Cafe
Now let’s go to the further north part of Station 1, away from the crowd. This small pizza place shares the beachfront of Discovery Shores Resort where you can ask to have your food served in one of their beach beds. We tried their thincrust Bacon Pizza for merienda (P200+).

Crystal Sands Hotel
Try affordable beachfront dinner in this hotel with accomodating servers. I tried their Fish and Chips (forgot how much), nicely fried and just enough lemon flavor. I like this better than Paradiso’s.

Blue Waves Beach House
Breakfast courtesy of our 2nd accomodation. They served us tocino and adobo with fried rice and egg. But the star of this breakfast is their Mango Pancake (P110). Fresh mangoes on top of slightly toasted pancakes with butter and maple syrup! I love eeet. hehe

..last but not the least don’t forget to indulge in tasty isaw at just about every block of the island. P20 per stick and the rest of the wonderful island for you to enjoy! 🙂

How about you? Where do you eat when you’re in Boracay? Let me know so I can try them too! 🙂

After our campus tour with Abra last Wednesday (Aug.7), we have decided to grab dinner at Lyrico’s Grill. They originally have a sidewalk ihawan before then they upgraded to a larger dine-in place just recently.

They still serve their original recipe chicken and pork bbq with their original sauce and several selection of rice. They have also added some desserts and sandwiches to their menu.

Their new place is simple with mainly bamboo interiors from walls, dividers, tables and chairs. The place is a little smoky too since the grill is just outside. No aircon as well, so expect it to be a little humid there, not too bad though.

We had chicken, liempo and 2 bbq sticks. Good enough to serve 3 hungry people. Food is good and a little comparable to bbq you get from streets but in bigger serving and better sauce! I’m not sure, but I think their sauce is a blend of bbq and peanut. It actually tastes good. We also had Yang Chow rice, also good for 3. We didn’t really had a choice since their other variations of rice are not available.

Rating:
Ambience: 3.5/5 – homey, nothing fancy
Service: 3/5 – prompt and attentive servers.
Food: 4/5 – tender bbq with yummy sauce
Price: 4/5 – our total bill is around P270, that’s below 100 per person
Accesibility: 3.5/5 – just take a bus to cavite city, the place is just along the highway, you won’t miss the smoke!

All in all, Lyrico’s is a place that we come back to when we crave for good bbq. BUT! you need to take patience with you too! Food takes around 40 minutes to be served since they are grilling them by order. They need to improve on that.